(CNN) - It's been 15 years since Darius and Nina fell in love after that pivotal poetry reading in Chicago, but fans of "Love Jones" are still talking about the pair's epic romance.

A highbrow, dramatic love story between two young African-Americans, "Love Jones" grossed a mere $12 million at the domestic box office in 1997, but it has an enduring cult following that can certainly be attributed to the film's authenticity.

One month after "Love Jones' " 15th anniversary, however, "Think Like A Man" earned more than $39 million domestically in its first week. Featuring a predominantly African-American ensemble cast, the film adaptation of Steve Harvey's best-selling nonfiction book, raises a frequent question: Is Hollywood finally ready to support more movies featuring African-American love?

Captured at the medal ceremony for the men's 200 meters at the 1968 Mexico Olympics, U.S. sprinter Tommie Smith stands defiantly, head bowed, his black-gloved fist thrust into the thin air.

Behind him fellow American John Carlos joins with his own Black Power salute, an act of defiance aimed at highlighting the segregation and racism burning back in their homeland.

It was an act that scandalized the Olympics. Smith and Carlos were sent home in disgrace and banned from the Olympics for life. But they were treated as returning heroes by the black community for sacrificing their personal glory for the cause. History, too, has been kind to them.

Yet few know that the man standing in front of both of them, the Australian sprinter Peter Norman who shocked everyone by powering past Carlos and winning the silver medal, played his own, crucial role in sporting history.

Twenty years ago Sunday, Los Angeles erupted in riots that forever changed the city. Some conditions, like the LAPD's relationship with the community have improved, while the areas blighted by the riots still struggle today. Now hear from others as they tell their stories about a time that changed the way America saw race.

1992: The day the music stopped

Lon McQ talks about the day the music stopped when KJLH, a black owned music radio station based in south Los Angeles stopped playing music when the riots began. Lon McQ talks about the day the music stopped when KJLH, a black owned music radio station based in south Los Angeles stopped playing music when the riots began and instead took calls from residents who reported what they saw and vented their anger and frustration at the verdicts and the ensuing destruction of their community.

Protester 'needed to vent' during riots

When Mark Craig heard the verdict, he was filled with rage. He got in the car with friends from his diverse suburb north of L.A. and raced downtown, ready to express his anger.When Mark Craig heard the news of the verdict, he was filled with rage. He got in the car with some friends from his racially diverse suburb north of Los Angeles and raced to downtown LA, determined to express his anger and frustration at the injustice of the verdict. He felt betrayed by his country and was determined to let the world know. He and his friends found themselves smack in the middle of downtown LA in front of police headquarters. A melee ensued - cops facing off against a loud and racially diverse crowd of protesters and a swarm of media. The protesters shouted "no justice no peace" and looked to destroy anything they could find. In what became an iconic image, Craig, in his peace symbol t-shirt, throws his fists up in victory after the protesters set a parking lot kiosk on fire and toppled it over. Despite his optimistic perspective on life, Craig says that not much has changed in 20 years in terms of racial and economic struggles. "There will always be the haves and have nots" but he does what he can to be a positive influence on youth today.

Fireman relives day he was shot in riots

Los Angeles firefighter Scott Miller was driving his fire truck through the thick of the riot when a car turned its headlights off and pulled up on the passenger side.Los Angeles firefighter Scott Miller was driving his fire truck through the thick of the riot chaos on April 29, 1992 when a car turned its headlights off and pulled up on the passenger side of his truck. A man in the car pulled out a gun and shot him in the face while he was behind the wheel. His recovery was nothing short of amazing. Within a year, he was back at work on light duty at the la fire dept working for the fire prevention bureau, and after 4 years of hoping he'd get back to fire fighting, he accepted the fact that given his disability with his left hand, he'd never fight fires again.

L.A. riots through the eyes of a child

On April 29, 1992, Rosalina Nieves was just 9 years old. After coming home from school, she watched in horror as local TV stations broadcasted live images of mobs in South L.A.On April 29, 1992, Rosalina Nieves was just 9 years old. After coming home from school, she watched in horror as local TV stations in Los Angeles broadcast live images of mobs of people attacking passersby at the intersection of Florence and Normandy in the South Central section of L.A. The riots began after a jury acquitted four police officers in charges from beating black motorist Rodney King. The infamous intersection was just five blocks from her home. Scared for her dad's safety, she and her Mom continued to watch the news intently for any information that could keep them safe---especially since her dad hadn't yet made it home from work. The public service the news media provided that night, is one of the reasons, she says, that she chose to become a journalist herself. Today Rosalina works as an Assignment Editor for CNN in the Los Angeles bureau.

Covering the Los Angeles riots

CNN journalists look back at their coverage of the 1992 riots that engulfed Los Angeles following the acquittals.CNN journalists look back at their coverage of the 1992 riots that engulfed Los Angeles following the acquittals.

Editor's note: Tavis Smiley is the host of the late-night television talk show "Tavis Smiley" on PBS and Cornel West is a professor at Princeton. They co-host "Smiley & West" on Public Radio International, and their new book is "The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto."

By Tavis Smiley and Cornel West, Special to CNN

(CNN) - The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced that the unemployment rate fell to 8.2%. That should have been a signal that jobs are coming back and that the economy is about to rebound. But, as many economists say, the numbers fell primarily because unemployed Americans have become so discouraged with trying to find a job that they've simply quit looking.

Because nearly one-third of the American middle class, mostly families with children, have fallen into poverty or are one paycheck away from poverty, it is paramount that we dissect the root causes of this mass disenfranchisement within the American workforce. This was the motivation behind "The Poverty Tour: A Call to Conscience," our 18-city bus tour that traveled across the country last year. It was designed to bring more attention to the plight of impoverished Americans.

These citizens do not fit the negative stereotypes and propaganda that we've heard during the Republican presidential primary contests. The candidates who have vowed to cut government subsidies speak of the poor as if their constituents had been exempted from the millions who, despite their middle-class identification and aspirations, now fall beneath the established poverty line.

Editor's note: Ali Noorani is executive director of the National Immigration Forum Action Fund, an organization based in Washington that advocates for the value of immigrants and immigration to the nation. Follow him on Twitter: @anoorani.

By Ali Noorani, Special to CNN

(CNN)- A month after defending the health care law, the Obama administration again confronted the buzz saw of skeptical Supreme Court justices on Wednesday - this time on immigration. But come November, Republicans may very well be on the losing end of the argument.

As has been widely reported, oral arguments regarding Arizona's SB 1070 illegal immigration law began with an unusual interruption: Chief Justice John Roberts broke in during U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli's opening comments to ask assertively, "No part of your argument has to do with racial or ethnic profiling, does it?"

And, while it is difficult to predict how the justices will rule, Justice Sonia Sotomayor signaled the tough road ahead when she said of the administration's argument, "You can see it's not selling very well."

About In America

What defines you? Maybe it’s the shade of your skin, the place you grew up, the accent in your words, the make up of your family, the gender you were born with, the intimate relationships you chose to have or your generation? As the American identity changes we will be there to report it. In America is a venue for creative and timely sharing of news that explores who we are. Reach us at inamerica@cnn.com.